Generations: Know your rights and your insurance benefits

Knowing your rights as a citizen or a patient is an important aspect of everyone’s life, keep in mind that knowledge is power.

On Sept. 25, 1789 the United States Bill of Rights was created, and ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, written by James Madison.

As the United States has grown as a country, Health Care has evolved as well. Some have cited differences between rights and freedoms: asserting that medical care "must be rendered under conditions that are acceptable to both patient and physician," the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons adopted a list of Patient Freedoms in 1990 which was modified and adopted as a Patient’s Bill of Rights in 1995: All patients should be guaranteed the following freedoms: To seek consultations with the physician of their choice; To contract with their physician on mutually agreeable terms; To be treated confidentially, with access to their medical records limited to those involved in their care or designated by the patient; To use their own resources to purchase the care of their choice; To refuse medical treatment even if it is recommended by the physician; To be informed about their medical condition the risks and benefits of treatment and appropriate alternative; To refuse third-party interference in the medical care, and to be confident that their actions in seeking or declining medical care will not result in third-party-imposed penalties for patients or physicians; and to receive full disclosure of their insurance plan in plain language.

Thus any insurance company must disclose the following in laymen’s terms; Contracts, Incentives, Cost, Coverage, Qualifications, Approval Procedures, Referrals, and Appeals.
In 2001 The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act attempted to make amendments to this Bill of rights and to date is waiting for a final vote, as it failed. Thus when deciding on a health care plan whether you are employed or retired it is very important to know your rights and all the details of your plan, unfortunately, many people do not. In general patients do have the right to be free from unnecessary or excessive medication. The right to not be subjected to non-standard treatment or procedures. The right to treatment in the least restrictive setting and physical restraints. The right to privacy and dignity. The right to be free from mental and physical abuse. The right to practice the religion of your choice.

There are many more patient rights this article has just named a few, so whether you are in a hospital setting, independent living facility, acute or sub acute rehabilitation facility, or long term care facility, it is who of you to not just sign that paper but to read your rights. Your rights as patient are just as important as your rights as a Citizen of the United States of America.

In conclusion this article has been written so that you know your rights as a patient, knowing you have a say in what facility you chose if necessary, and most importantly that you are aware of your Insurance Benefits so that you may be proactive vs reactive if a crisis may occur.